The Bongsan Mask Dance Drama is a representative masque dance drama of Hwanghae Province, presently located in the North Korea, this was originally performed in Kyongsudae in Bongsan township. After around 1915, when the township administration office was moved to Sariwon, and the Seoul-Shinuiju Railroad was opened, it was performed at the foot of Mt. Kyongnam in Sariwon.

In the early 1930's it was decided to establish the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama Preservation Society by the masque dance players and those in the region who sought to preserve this art. On August 25, 1945, Korea was liberated from Japan, afterwards divided into two parts, the South and North Korea. The Korean War that broke out on June 25, 1950 brought about a resultant stagnation in the activities of the Society. Fortunate it was, however. that the majority of the performers were able to escape to the south, and in 1958, the Society was once again rehabilitated with such notable players as Kim Jin Ok, Lee Keun Sung at the forefront, and it has been maintained down until present days.

In 1961, the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama won the Presidential Prize at the National Folk Arts Contest, and also has become a winner of many similar contests thereafter. In 1965, the Cultural Properties Bureau assigned the various scholars studying in this particular field to undertake research on the Pongsan masque dance drama; and in year of 1967, it was designated as the 17th Important Intangible Cultural Property of Korea by the Korean government.

For the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama being properly inherited, the training for successors began in 1962, and it is those who, today, play the leading roles. In 1973, the Ministry of Culture and Information established the Inheritage Hall for the future folk arts.

The brief history of the Bongsan's activities since the year of 1958 till now as follows;

It is through this link, then, that most of the members of society have actively given instruction in the educational fields throughout the nation.

The Society is presently working on a plan to construct its own institute in the future. The films, showing of past masters of this art, the documents, the materials used in plays, etc will display on exhibit. The training of inheritors will also be continued there, and the institute will be open to both Koreans and foreigners alike, to whomsoever wishes to make use of the available facilities for further their study and research on the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama.

The creation of such an institute is not easy work, but with the firm support and backing up from those who deeply treasure the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama, the realization of truly superb institute can be fulfilled sooner. With the gradual emergence of this masque dance drama onto the stages of the world, it is hoped that in the future it will continue go further in the presentation of performances to all the peoples of the world and to all the corners of the earth.